A MIRROR PAINTING AND 'ZITAN' TABLE SCREEN QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

comprising a double sided rectangular mirror, painted to one side with a depiction of Jiang Ziya, the famed military strategist, dressed in humble attire, seated on a riverbank, fishing rod in hand, gazing out at the surrounding countryside, the reverse plain, set within a beaded zitan frame with a horizontal panel carved on both sides with confronted kuilong, the stand with two slotted uprights with further archaistic carving joined by stretchers and a taotie motif apron (2)

The vibrantly painted mirror on the recto with an extremely fine hairline scratch across the glass plate (visible only under raking light from certain angles), mild expected speckled tarnishing to the silver backing and painting, and some adhesive at the edges darkened from age. The unpainted mirror on the verso also with mild expected speckled tarnishing to the silver backing. The frame in overall fair condition with only a narrow gap in the join at one of the top corners (still stable), a narrow crack near the carved details on the verso, and the lower edge with the characters "shi wu" ("fifteen") painted in red (concealed when frame is set into the stand). The stand with expected surface wear (including minor nicks), one of the uprights stabilized with adhesive (visible under blacklight), and the other upright slightly loose (but still sufficiently stable to serve its purpose).
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.